open 💀 second recording | passive dream + extra

[stillarhino]

Sender: Beat
To: Everyone
Subject: Passive Dream Recording
Warnings: Some spoilers for the OG The World Ends With You. Will update as needed.

A smartphone is shoved in front of your face, and confusion takes over, not sure what exactly you're looking at. Then you realize that it's an innocuous advertisement for a piece of jewelry that had shown right before the video played. You turn to the owner, and it takes you a moment to recognize her, your sister Rhyme. She's young, with short, blonde hair framing either side of her face. Her usual beanie is absent from atop her head.

"It's cute, right?" she asks. She's never really had any interest in jewelry before, which only further added to your confusion.

She smiles back at you, noticing the look on your face. "Don't worry. I don't plan on buying it. I probably wouldn't be able to afford it anyway."

A sigh escapes her mouth before she withdraws her arm, turning to lie back on the bed as she proceeds to watch the following video that starts to play.

For a moment you wonder what that was all about before you turn your attention back to the skateboard you'd been working on.

- - -

It's morning and you've been in line since the crack of dawn. You're not a morning person and you let out the biggest yawn, not even bothering to cover your mouth.

A few hours have passed since you got here, able to get a spot in line toward the front of the pack, only beaten by those who camped out the night before. You decided to come out this early only because you learned that the item was limited. Seeing all the people in line before you makes you realize just how coveted this might actually be. For a while, you wonder if you even have a chance of purchasing it.

There are a few whispers from further back in line, and they don't make an effort in keeping their voices down.

"What is he doing here anyway? He looks completely lost."

"Stop that. Maybe he's buying it for his girlfriend or something."

A rush of heat color your cheeks, but you're quick to shoot a glare their way, baring your teeth just to drive the point further. They see you and all of a sudden they have nothing more to say.

- - -

The box in your hand is wrapped messily, the bow atop it leaning off one of the corners. Maybe you should've let someone else do it instead. But it's too late for that now. You rap your knuckles against the door.

It opens to reveal Rhyme. A large smile adorns her face as she greets you but she quickly sees the box in your hand. "Huh? What's this?"

You hand it over to her.

"For me?" She examines it for a while before looking back up to hold your gaze. "Can I open it?" You nod and she immediately begins tearing through the wrapper. When she opens the box within, her face immediately lights up, and whatever anxiety you had felt coming into this washes away.

"Oh gosh! You actually got it." She holds up a cord with a large, brass bell pendant hanging at the end. It's the very same one as the piece featured in the video ad.

Before you can even get a word out, she throws herself at you, jumping to curl her arms around your neck. "Thank you so much, Beat!" A warmth spreads throughout you and you smile, bringing your arms around her to return the embrace, hugging her tight enough to make her giggle in your ear.

And then you wake.

Sender: Beat
To: Close CR (except for Gina and Futaba)
Subject: a little help?
Warnings: Cursing. Will update as needed.

[Forward dated to the 23rd.]

yo i kinda got myself in a predicktament
and i aint sure how im supposed to

[There's a long pause before he continues writing this next part.]

deal with this one
so imma need some advice
any of ya got some time to help a brother out?

[If you're unsure if your character counts for this second part, feel free to poke me at riyuji or at Riyuji#9693 on discord.]

Comments

[stillarhino]

We kinda got caught with 'em slug things. The one that keep sayin' you gotta smooch and kiss? So.. 'bout a month ago.

[Beat doesn't seem to realize the look she gives him, unable to meet her gaze. Hell, he just about wanted to bury himself into his hoodie right now.]

Leas' it was 'cause a' that when I started thinkin' 'bout it.

[judicialassistant]

[ The look seems to pass anyway, and instead, there is a blush that seems to creep onto her own cheeks as well at the thought. She knows those slugs well enough by now. ]

You must mean the pink ones.

[ The only one that has yet to get her of the three, it seems. ]

I don't suppose it got you with them both at the same time, or I suspect we might be having a very different conversation.

[stillarhino]

Hell no!

[There's an obvious jolt of surprise at the question as his entire face and neck turn red. His arms move to plant his hands firmly on the table. Beat couldn't imagine having to deal with both at the same time. The aftermath was bad enough.]

Yo, if they was there at the same time, I... Shit, I dunno what I woulda done!

[judicialassistant]

[ Haha... just Susato then!

Susato finds it hard to look at him for a second, but the fact is, she was probably lucky the one that got them was white. But this is not about her, this is about Beat... so she eventually turns to him, the slight amusement from his reaction fading. ]

Um...

Well... How, How did they react?

[judicialassistant]

...

Did Gina shoot it? [ RIP slug. ]

[stillarhino]

...Whatchu jus' say?

[Did he even hear that correctly? Though, with the way she was acting, he could see that happening. Wait.]

Hold up, you tellin' me that she's packin'?

[judicialassistant]

[ BEAT......... ]

Packing what? I, I meant her smoke bombs?

[ ISN'T THAT... WHY HE CALLS HER SMOKES... ]

Never mind.

[stillarhino]

Smoke bomb...?

[And here we learn that this isn't the reason why he calls her that.

But if she wants them to move on. Beat scratches the back of his head, eyes downcast as he tried to recall what had happened.]

It was all kinds a' awkward, you know?

Shorty was— [He clears his throat.] Futaba was—well, the two of us went to my place after 'cause we was gonna trade music 'fore all that went down. Smokes though was pissed off 'bout it the whole time. But I told her I wasn't gonna do nothin' until she said she was okay with it.

[Despite the situation they found themselves in, Beat knew that consent was an important thing.]

[judicialassistant]

[ She doesn't know Futaba that well, but that sure does sound like Gina. She can picture her all huffy and indignant... and with that in mind, she'll urges Beat to continue. ]

And what was she 'okay' with? [ What would she have been okay with that was also satisfy the slug...? ]

[stillarhino]

You know... A kiss.

[Auuugh, he's dead. Just bury him now. Let him rot in his hoodie prison.]

[judicialassistant]

[ There is a pause during which Beat is allowed to rot, after which Susato gently brings up her pointer finger to indicate her lips. ]

Here?

choked on my own spit because of that icon

[stillarhino]

[Even as he peeks from behind his arms to look at her, it's obvious how red he's gotten. It's enough to rival the inner lining of his jacket, almost enough for him to completely blend into it. All of this is just making him think about the kiss all over again.

His reply is soft, almost weaker than the other one.]

Yeah... Twice.

you're welcome

[judicialassistant]

[ ......

Another pause. Susato has to lean into hear him, but she can guess what the answer is either way. ]

Futaba as well?

[stillarhino]

Yeah. Same with Shorty.

[At least on the lips. That's what Susato asked, after all, right? And he actually enjoyed it too. Both with Futaba and Gina, thus his current dilemma.]

I dunno what I'mma do now, Loops.

[judicialassistant]

W, Wow...

[ She places a hand on her chin in thought, her gaze pointed towards Beat's sketches of both girls. She is flushed, both because of the topic at hand and because... well, she's a little embarrassed.

This isn't something she can just look up in a book, is it? ]

I am hardly an expert on matters of the heart... Ori once told me she had two boyfriends, but... [ She's gone. ] I don't know if that will help here.

[stillarhino]

Ori had what?

[His laugh is a little hollow, bittersweet. He missed Ori, definitely, but he can't help but feel like this was some kind of cruel joke. The one person who might have some idea of what to do had gone. Still, that news was a surprise to him. Good for her.]

I don't 'spect ya to be able to fix the problem or nothin', Loops. I guess I'm jus' tryin' to get whatever ideas people got at his point.

[judicialassistant]

[ Yup, that sure was a thing. But the only reason that worked is... according to Ori, both Thoma and Diluc loved each other as much as they loved her. She doesn't think the same will hold true for Gina and Futaba here, and it would be a discourtesy to suggest it.

Maybe there's something else, however, hidden in the depths of her own experiences with romance—which is shallow, to be fair. There's a pang in her chest as she remembers her father. They were supposed to learn and take this journey together... ]

I don't know if it is an idea, exactly... But you know, I think I know how you feel. At least, more than I'd like to admit.

[stillarhino]

[Surprised Pikachu!]

Seriously? You do?

[This is the first time he emerges from the cocoon that he had made for himself with his jacket. He doesn't mean to sound so eager but at this point, he'll take whatever he can get.]

But... I thought you was already with someone.

[judicialassistant]

I, I am!

[ Seeing him come out of the cocoon makes him seem eager. Susato doesn't mean to sound so defensive in return, so after that spark, she'll settle before continuing. It's difficult to consider a time "before" Kazuma, but... ]

But—But it wasn't always like that. Back home, before Reverein, we... we were actually growing apart.

[stillarhino]

[Adjusting himself in his seat, he stands a little straighter as he listens to Susato. He doesn't know much about her past or her boyfriend, so he needed to be sure to listen. His brows furrow, trying to understand what she had meant.]

So you saying that before here... you had the hots for someone else?

[It's strange how matter-of-factly he says that.]

[judicialassistant]

[ opens mouth

closes mouth. kids today and their new-fangled slang. ]

Had the... what? [ something something fire dreamotion ]

[stillarhino]

Had the hots? You know, like, a crush or someone ya liked?

[Most times he can't stop himself. Sorry, Susato.]

[judicialassistant]

Oh. But, why would...?

[ At least she knows what a crush is. She learned. But why modern terminology would phrase such things this way is beyond her. Nothing is being crushed, though she supposes you could argue the feeling evokes a form of "heat."

Especially here.

...SHE'S GETTING DISTRACTED. ]

A, Anyway... I suppose I was no more sure of my feelings than you are. But then it didn't matter, because... I woke up here.

[stillarhino]

So, it was what-their-name then and the guy you with now?

[Thinking had never really been Beat's strong suit, but it really felt like there was more on the line here. And, although he felt a little guilty that the thought crossed his mind, hearing that he wasn't the only one dealing with it put him at ease.

His shoulders seem to relax a bit more as the conversation between them continued.]

How you feelin' about the two a' them now?

[judicialassistant]

[ The true answer is: she's not quite as torn up about it as Beat, but if it makes him feel better... If it helps in some way, that she is glad she mentioned it. ]

They both mean the world to me. But I will always love Kazuma-sama.

[ That's that. Until Ryunosuke starts displaying feelings towards one of them or the other (if ever), that's probably how it will stay. It seems like the three of them are entirely content with that, for now. ]

We shared a paopu fruit on my birthday that deemed it so.